5. Azadibachta.] 30. MELIACEJE- [7. Cipadess*. 



Not indigenous, but occnrs wild in jungles in Hazarit agh and fre- 

 quently self-sown near gardens and villages throughout Chota Nagpur. 

 Fl. March-May. Fr. June- July. The seed germinates the same season. 

 Evergreen. 



Fls. \" diam., St.-tube \'' long, 10-toothed and anthers opposite the 

 teeth. Ovary 3-5-celled. Drupe £-f 7 ellipsoid, yellow when ripe, 1-celled 

 and 1-seeded. 



A most valuable germicide and the ripe fruits are largely collected by 

 the Kols for the oil which is especially useful in parasitic skin diseases in 

 both man and animals. 



Brandis speaks of the fruits becoming purple when ripe, this is 

 oertainly not the case in Chota Nagpur. 



6. Melia. L. 



1. M. Azedarach, ^» Bokom baha, 8. ; Bakain, H. ; 

 The Persian Lilac. 



A small tree with 2-pinnate leaves and axillary panicles 

 of small sweet-scented lilac and parple flowers. Ovary 5-6- 

 celled. Drnpe fleshy £-f" yellowish with a bony 5-6-celled 

 stone, each cell with 1 long narrow seed with brown testa, 

 thin albnmen and fleshy linear-oblong cotyledons. 



Common in gardens and villages, not wild. Fls. May-June. Fr. 

 ripens Nov. -Dec, but often temains on the tree throughout the cold 

 weather. 



A pretty tree in flower but it is more or less leafless from Dec. to 

 April. 



7. Cipadcssa* Blnme. 



1. C. fruticosa, Blume. 



A small tree or a large shrub with long weak sub-sarraen- 

 tose branches, leaves with 7-11 opposite variously toothed 

 leaflets and axillary or extra- axillary small cymose panicles 

 of small white flowers. 



Valley forests in Singbhum, frequent in Saranda and Porahat ; Paras - 

 n&th, Anders. Fl. April-May with the new shoots. Fr. May-Nov. 

 Deciduous in March. 



Variable. Whole plant usually more or less pubescent. L. 5-12''. 

 Lflb$. from f (at base of leaf) to 5 by 2^", from entire to coarsely serrate 

 or sub-lobed, acute or acuminate. Petiolules %-j'. Panicles narrow 3-4" 

 long including the long peduncle. Calyx 5-toothed. Petals 5, valvate 



252 



